comment

If so, don't fall for a generic form blackmail letter going out to residents in New Canaan, elsewhere in Fairfield County and across the region.

A Daily Voice reader received one and shared it with us.

The letter, which was addressed by name to the recipient, is pretty threatening in the way the blackmailer gets right to the point about anything salacious or even illegal the person may have done in the past and is hiding.

"I'm going to cut to the chase," it begins. "I know about the secret you are keeping from your wife and everyone else."

They don't really have any information, that's clear too, due to the vague language used and the lack of any mention of specific events.

It does threaten to expose the person to their significant other and warns against going to the police.

The letter offers two options, pay the money, in this case, $15,600 in Bitcoin, or the option of the blackmailer spilling your secrets with a deadline of nine days to be paid.

New Canaan Police Lt. Jason Ferraro said the scam has been going on for about two years.

"We have posted multiple warnings to residents through Twitter and Instagram even putting the letter on the posts advising residents to discard the letter and do not pay anything," he said.

He said the best option is to ignore the letter and to throw it away. There's also no need to report receiving one to police as the letters are not traceable, just as the letter says.